Bethlehem police ‘swatted’ with hoax call about shooting

Bethlehem police shut down the 600 block of Hayes Street on the South Side following a report of gunshots fired Wednesday morning, but the call turned out to be a hoax, according to police.

The city’s emergency response team and tactical vehicle were deployed, as well as an ambulance and other emergency personnel, after receiving a report about 9:15 a.m. that two gunshots were heard in a row home at 632 Hayes St. in the Yosko Park neighborhood.

Lt. Mark DiLuzio said police responded believing victims were in the home, but officers found no evidence of that and determined the call to be a hoax.

According to emergency radio dispatches, police were unable to make contact with anyone in the home and were contemplating making a forced entry, but delayed action after they couldn’t find the “neighbor” who reported hearing the gunshots.

One of the neighbors police contacted, though, said they did not know of anyone in the neighborhood with the name the caller used.

After listening to the call again, an emergency radio dispatcher told police it was possible the call was a hoax. Hoax calls have been a problem across the country for police and fire departments, which respond as if it is an actual emergency, usually with the Special Weapons and Tactical team. Such incidents have become known as “swatting.”

DiLuzio said swatting puts first responders at risk of being hurt when rushing to the incident and could potentially delay the city’s response to an actual emergency. He said the 911 call was placed from a cellphone and investigators are trying to determine who made it.

Emergency personnel were on scene for about an hour before determining the call was a hoax.

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call Detective David Bartera at 610-997-7684.